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Undergraduate Opportunities

GVPT E-Mail List

GVPT sends a weekly newsletter via e-mail to our majors. This contains information on workshops and other programs, scholarship opportunities, important announcements etc. If you don't have an account or don't check your e-mail - START, you won't believe the opportunities you're not hearing about! To get onto the list send an e-mail to GVPT Advising at advising@gvpt.umd.edu.

The GVPT Honors Program

Small classes and close interaction with faculty and other students makes the GVPT Honors Program attractive to our very best students. Students take a series of honors seminars and independent research courses that are both challenging and rewarding. The presence, in College Park, of the new National Archives, as well as our own campus libraries puts some of the world's greatest research facilities at our door.

Interested students should apply for admission to the program to the Honors Director. Normally, students will be admitted on the basis of both SAT scores and college GPA. In order to be retained, a 3.0 overall GPA, a 3.5 GVPT GPA and a consultation with the Honors Director at least once a semester are required. The basic requirements for the department's citation are three honors level courses in GVPT and a departmental thesis. In order to realistically expect to complete the thesis and to graduate with departmental honors, it is necessary to make the decision about a thesis topic and chairperson by the end of the junior year. For more information, visit the GVPT Honors Program website or consult the GVPT Honors Director, Dr. Elkin, in 1140E Tydings, 405-4117.

Office of Undergraduate Studies Resources

The Office of Undergraduate Studies offers several opportunities for students in all departments. This page contains information on programs including Beyond the Classroom, Individual Studies Program, the Federal Semester, as well as others.

Undergraduate Research Assistant Program

URAP (Undergraduate Research Assistant Program), administered by the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Studies, introduces undergraduates to the discipline and rewards of scholarly research. Students spend four to six hours a week working with or under the direction of a faculty mentor on that faculty member's own research and receive an Undergraduate Research Assistant notation on their transcript at the conclusion of the assistantship. Participation in the program "makes the big store small" for undergraduates, since it allows them to work closely with faculty members outside the classroom and the opportunity to make significant contributions to faculty research.

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Program

Selected students work with a faculty mentor (eligibility is not restricted to any discipline, department, etc.) and provide services while they learn about teaching. Students earn credits through EDUC 388(0101) - Special Topics in Education: Guided Experiences in College Teaching (3 credits) and EDCI 498 - Special Problems in Education (1 credit). The UTA splits time between working with the faculty member he or she is assisting (about 8-10 hours per week) and the seminar meetings for EDUC 388. The classes meet two hours each week and the first session will serve to orient the UTA's in their new role at the beginning of the semester. (Details will be individually communicated to students who are selected for the program).

Honor Societies

1. Pi Sigma Alpha:

Students who are eligible for admittance to this National Political Science Honor Society will be notified once they meet the following requirements:

Completion of at least 12 hours of GVPT courses at UMCP and full-time enrollment in the present semester.
An overall GPA of 3.4 at UMCP, with at least 60 hours completed.
A GPA of 3.5 in GVPT courses with at least three credits of upper level GVPT course work.

2. Phi Beta Kappa:

Election to the oldest and most widely respected academic honorary society in the country is based entirely on outstanding scholastic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences. Interested students should contact Professor Denis Sullivan, the Executive Secretary of the University of Maryland Chapter, at 301-405-8986, or Professor Denny Gulick, at 301-405-5056. Students may also consult the undergraduate catalog or visit http://www.ugst.umd.edu/pbk.html .

3. Other Honor Societies:

For a list of every honor society located at UMCP, students should consult the Undergraduate Catalog.

Links to More Opportunities

University Honors Program (This program is open to incoming freshmen only)
College Park Scholars Program (This program is open to incoming freshmen only)
Law & Health Professions Advising
Campus Activities and Student Groups
International Programs
Maryland Parliamentary Debate Society


Home \| Contact GVPT
	Undergraduate Opportunities Home > Undergraduate > Opportunities GVPT E-Mail List GVPT sends a weekly newsletter via e-mail to our majors. This contains information on workshops and other programs, scholarship opportunities, important announcements etc. If you don't have an account or don't check your e-mail - START, you won't believe the opportunities you're not hearing about! To get onto the list send an e-mail to GVPT Advising at advising@gvpt.umd.edu. The GVPT Honors Program Small classes and close interaction with faculty and other students makes the GVPT Honors Program attractive to our very best students. Students take a series of honors seminars and independent research courses that are both challenging and rewarding. The presence, in College Park, of the new National Archives, as well as our own campus libraries puts some of the world's greatest research facilities at our door. Interested students should apply for admission to the program to the Honors Director. Normally, students will be admitted on the basis of both SAT scores and college GPA. In order to be retained, a 3.0 overall GPA, a 3.5 GVPT GPA and a consultation with the Honors Director at least once a semester are required. The basic requirements for the department's citation are three honors level courses in GVPT and a departmental thesis. In order to realistically expect to complete the thesis and to graduate with departmental honors, it is necessary to make the decision about a thesis topic and chairperson by the end of the junior year. For more information, visit the GVPT Honors Program website or consult the GVPT Honors Director, Dr. Elkin, in 1140E Tydings, 405-4117. Office of Undergraduate Studies Resources The Office of Undergraduate Studies offers several opportunities for students in all departments. This page contains information on programs including Beyond the Classroom, Individual Studies Program, the Federal Semester, as well as others. Undergraduate Research Assistant Program URAP (Undergraduate Research Assistant Program), administered by the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Studies, introduces undergraduates to the discipline and rewards of scholarly research. Students spend four to six hours a week working with or under the direction of a faculty mentor on that faculty member's own research and receive an Undergraduate Research Assistant notation on their transcript at the conclusion of the assistantship. Participation in the program "makes the big store small" for undergraduates, since it allows them to work closely with faculty members outside the classroom and the opportunity to make significant contributions to faculty research. Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Program Selected students work with a faculty mentor (eligibility is not restricted to any discipline, department, etc.) and provide services while they learn about teaching. Students earn credits through EDUC 388(0101) - Special Topics in Education: Guided Experiences in College Teaching (3 credits) and EDCI 498 - Special Problems in Education (1 credit). The UTA splits time between working with the faculty member he or she is assisting (about 8-10 hours per week) and the seminar meetings for EDUC 388. The classes meet two hours each week and the first session will serve to orient the UTA's in their new role at the beginning of the semester. (Details will be individually communicated to students who are selected for the program). Honor Societies 1. Pi Sigma Alpha: Students who are eligible for admittance to this National Political Science Honor Society will be notified once they meet the following requirements: Completion of at least 12 hours of GVPT courses at UMCP and full-time enrollment in the present semester. An overall GPA of 3.4 at UMCP, with at least 60 hours completed. A GPA of 3.5 in GVPT courses with at least three credits of upper level GVPT course work. 2. Phi Beta Kappa: Election to the oldest and most widely respected academic honorary society in the country is based entirely on outstanding scholastic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences. Interested students should contact Professor Denis Sullivan, the Executive Secretary of the University of Maryland Chapter, at 301-405-8986, or Professor Denny Gulick, at 301-405-5056. Students may also consult the undergraduate catalog or visit http://www.ugst.umd.edu/pbk.html . 3. Other Honor Societies: For a list of every honor society located at UMCP, students should consult the Undergraduate Catalog. Links to More Opportunities University Honors Program (This program is open to incoming freshmen only) College Park Scholars Program (This program is open to incoming freshmen only) Law & Health Professions Advising Campus Activities and Student Groups International Programs Maryland Parliamentary Debate Society

The Department of Government & Politics 3140 Tydings Hall, College Park, MD 20742